Quiet Laughter

Tighe fell into a restless slumber an hour later, leaving Maynard finally free to empty out the urn. He was certain if he attempted it any sooner Tighe would have need of it while Maynard was gone. The vampire would do almost anything for the Fae… except that.

Maynard went over and opened the bedroom door, thrusting the soiled urn upon a passing human. The young man didn’t even react; he simply turned and walked off with the urn.

“And bring it back when y’done cleaning it out!” the vampire called after him. Maynard grabbed another passing human, a young girl. “Get me a wash cloth, a bowl and pitcher of water.”

She bowed and went to retrieve said objects as Maynard slipped back into the room.

“He looks so young.” Royal said startling the vampire. He had only looked away for a moment and she had suddenly appeared on the bed beside her brother smoothing his hair back from his brow.

“Has he said anything?” she inquired.

“Only good news.” Maynard replied with a grin. “He only ate three of the treats. All the rest went to his friends.”

“I checked with the others who ate the pumpkin seeds, assuring the master everyone else was fine.” Royal told him. Some color vanished from the vampire’s face as a shiver of fear tore at his insides.

“Master Karnik knows—”

“Oh yes.” She said with an empty smile. “I would be remiss in my duty had I not told him of Tighe’s sudden turn of health. The Master does ever so love his treasured toys.”

“And what did Master Karnik say?” Maynard asked as waves of apprehension coiled in his gut.

"I say that giving iron to a Fae counts as poisoning." Karnik growled from behind Maynard.

“It was a accident. Ah didn’t know the treats had iron in ‘em.” Maynard whined shivering in fear. Royal smirked as she vanished briefly and reappeared on top of Tighe’s dresser to watch the fun and keep an eye on her brother.

Karnik made a scoffing noise. "Didn't know?" He said quietly. "How did you not know?" He paced to look down at his new possession, unconscious on the bed. He twirled around to glare at Maynard. "Well?"

“Tighe seemed like the type to like candy an’ that was the only candy Ah knew.” The vampire argued. He could see Royal mentally snickering at him from her perch. “Ah swear Ah had no idea blackstrap molasses and pumpkin seeds were high in iron.”

Karnik narrowed his eyes. "But the question is 'how'."

“H-how what Master?”

Karnik bared his teeth. "How you could be so dumb as to not know." He stalked closer. "We have had many dealings with the Fae through the past few hundred years."

Maynard went to open his mouth again to argue but Royal cut him off.

“Quit arguing with the Master. You were a supreme dumbass and deserve to be eviscerated with a butter knife.”

“Oh can I?” the vampire asked eagerly.

"No you may not." Karnik said. "In fact, if Tighe dies I will kill you —but with no pain."

Maynard’s face fell just as Tighe stirred from his slumber. First he made a tiny low sound as his lashes began to flutter. Then he frowned and turned onto his side. Finally his eyes drifted open and blearily focused on the closest person.

Tighe screamed.

Karnik laughed, distracted for the time being. "Feeling better?" He purred, and leaned over Tighe to run his nails through his hair.

Tighe made some sort of choking noise, his empty stomach trying so hard to force itself through his mouth. Royal paled and curled in on herself while Maynard and her helplessly listened to his strangled cries.

“If I say no,” Tighe gasped once his stomach ceased revolting against him. “Will I get hurt?”

Karnik looked bemused. "Not yet." He lightly scratched down Tighe’s neck.

The Fae shuddered, setting off Royal’s protective instincts that Karnik was oblivious to as he toyed with Tighe. Maynard saw her subtly shift position so that she could easily pounce if the situation needed.

“Quit.” Tighe whimpered. “I don’t want to get smacked for something I can’t control, like throwing up on you.”

Karnik smirked. "Then you better not throw up." He rolled Tighe over onto his back and started to slide the Fae’s shirt from his shoulders. Tighe swallowed a scream.

“Master,” Maynard said taking a chance by interposing. “You can’t honestly expect him to be able to keep his lunch down when he’s sick.”

The surprised and happy look Tighe gave the vampire made him feel warm inside.

Karnik spared Maynard a glance. "Such a shame that someone fed him iron–accidentally." He added, and rolled Tighe over again, roughly this time, to completely remove the shirt.

Tighe screamed and Royal leapt off of the dresser and took a swipe at the Master with the blunt end of her sword. Maynard rolled out of way and hid under the bed like any smart person would do in the situation.

Karnik snarled and threw Tighe’s shirt at her face before lunging after her. "What is your aim?"

“Fraello is sick.” Royal replied bringing up her guard. She knew she had to do this carefully. She had no intention of harming the vampire she was bound to but she wasn’t about to let her Master harm Tighe in the condition he was in. Or let him harm her if she could help it.

“Play with him now and he won’t have strength enough for his body to fight the toxin.”

"I am the one who makes the decisions here." He stated, moving to pin Royal against the wall but she slipped out of his grasp, pissing him off even more. He slammed her into the bed frame, making Tighe groan, before throwing her across the room.

Royal hit the opposite wall with a hard thud that knocked the breath from her lungs. Her vision began to dim and she cursed her fragile body. She cursed many things before passing out.

Karnik didn’t spare her a backward glance and stalked over to Tighe, who was retching.

"What's the problem now, little one?"

Tighe was glad he wasn’t one of those people who could manage to throw something up even with an empty stomach. He could just imagine the pain he’d be in if he made a mess.

He knew it was the fear that was causing him to continue dry heaving. But with his only means of protection against the fiend nearing him lying in a crumpled heap, Tighe couldn’t stop fright coursing through him.

“Ahg, Great Lady just fucking smite me.”

“Alas, for now Maynard had better nurse you to health.” Karnik said as he smiled down at Tighe. He grabbed hold of Maynard by his hooped skirts and dragged him out.

"Or he will get no pain–ever again." He flung Maynard on the bed, a tumble of skirt hoops and sauntered from the room. Tighe and Maynard exchanged looks.

“He didn’t hurt me.” The Fae said in a tiny voice. The vampire patted his head with an encouraging smile.

“’Course not. You’re sick and he loves you.” He told him. Tighe gave him a sour look before replying.

“Go snag Itsuki. He’ll enjoy the chance to feel Royal up while he’s carrying her to her room.”

Maynard snickered as he opened the door to do the Fae’s bidding. Outside, a young girl stood holding a silver tray with a bowl and pitcher sitting next to a folded gray wash cloth.

“Bring me Itsuki Hikaru or his twin.” The vampire told the servant taking the tray from her. “Preferably Itsuki.”

Then Maynard kicked the door closed in the girl’s face, turning back to Tighe.

The Fae had pulled his shirt up around him and was reclining in bed. The crimson and violet throw pillows sat propped between his back all the way up to his neck. Maynard had to hand it to his Master, he certainly could color coordinate so that the inner beauty of his toys were promptly displayed.

“That wasn’t very nice.” Tighe told him as the vampire sat the tray down on the bed next to him. Maynard folded himself at the side of his bed, smoothing the skirts of his dress and poured the water from the pitcher into the bowl.

“You should have at least told her thank you.” The Fae said as Maynard picked up the cloth and soaked it in the water. He wrung out the wash cloth of excess water, folded it neatly and placed it gently on Tighe’s fevered brow.

“Humans here don’t care ‘bout anythin’ but keepin’ the Master happy and survivin’.”

“That’s not true.” Tighe stubbornly replied. “They’re alive so they musthave feelings. And it’s not nice—”

“Ah hate to burst y’ bubble,” Maynard told him. “But the world ain’t a nice place. People here have sense enough ta take care of themselves first. It’s the number one rule of survival: Nothing else matters.”

Tighe’s face fell, “But fraella and you—”

“Fraella is lying in a heap because she didn’t remember the rules.” Maynard snapped pointing at the unconscious Fae. “An’ me?! Masta Karnik told me to take care of you.”

When Tighe flinched, the vampire softened his tone.

“But jus’ ‘cause I was ordered to, it doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy playin’ nursemaid.” Maynard chucked him under the chin just as someone knocked at the door. A moment later, the door cracked open and Itsuki gingerly stuck his head inside.

“Uh—h, was I called?”

“Hi Suki-chan.” Tighe greeted as his friend slipped in the room and closed the door behind him.

“Wanna endear ya’self to our little killer pixie?” Maynard asked with a smirk and motioned to the motionless Royal. “Fraella there would most likely enjoy her own bed much better than the floor.”

One could imagine an invisible tail vigorously wagging behind him as Itsuki’s face brightened, rushed over and scooped Royal up in his arms. Tighe giggled weakly as his friend cuddled his sister to his chest.

“Now Itsuki, you had best be a gentleman while fraella is under your care.” The Fae said sternly. “I would wish for you to lose anything important the next we meet.”

Maynard could see behind the joking twinkle in his eyes, Tighe was seriously warning Itsuki like any older brother would given the situation. Itsuki’s invisible tail drooped a tad but commenced enthusiastically wagging as he paraded out the door.

“You weren’t seriously threatening Isuki, were you?” Maynard asked in mock outrage. “Really has the iron damaged your memory? You’re a Fae and he’s your friend.”

Tighe smiled, quickly catching onto the game. “So true, Maynard, but Hikaru Itsuki is a male and obviously infatuated with my beloved younger sister. As a diligent older brother, I must see my sister’s virtue remains intact.

“But sir, your sister is more than capable of taking care of herself.”

“Not now she’s not.” Tighe retorted. “Fae Knight or not, I’ll kick his ass if he touches her.”

“Ya’ll get stripes on y’face.” The vampire warned.

“I think they might look kinda sexy on me.”

Maynard cackled and Tighe chuckled before he went white and began dry heaving. He drooped sideways and would have fell straight to the floor had not the vampire stood quickly and held him against his body.

“I hate this.” Tighe whispered once his stomach settled.

“This?” Maynard asked gently running his fingers through the Fae’s hair.

“I don’t feel good. I miss my mother and Otousan.”Tighe swallowed hard and said as sudden tears choked his voice. “I want to go home.”

“This is your home.” Maynard replied. He sat down beside Tighe on the bed and drew him into his lap where the Fae buried his face into his shoulder.

“Ah can’t do anything ‘bout y’momma or the other person, Tighe.” He told the weeping Fae “but Ah’ll try m’best to make y’feel better.”

I’ll make this hell into a paradise if I can always see your smiling face. Maynard swore.

Tighe’s kisses tasted like honeysuckles.

Maynard didn’t notice the flavor of the Fae’s kisses the first time they kissed. Tighe had spent four days sick in bed from ingesting iron rich foods and the vampire hardly ever left his side. So when the kiss occurred, it was quick, innocently appreciative for all the vampire had done.

Itsuki was witness to the brief kiss and like he had done every day while Maynard tended to Tighe, he reported everything he saw to Royal.

The second time Tighe kissed Maynard was the following week when he surprised the Fae with a handmade outfit. The burgundy shirt was loose with cut out sleeves bound by copper cuffs. The matching form fitting velveteen pants allowed Tighe freedom of motion his usual skirts did not. To top off the outfit, Maynard gave the Fae his favorite blue corset that had embossed stars on the material.

“It’s so cute!” Tighe exclaimed leaping into his arms. Before Maynard could completely fathom the experience of the Fae smiling in his arms, Tighe wrapped his arms around his neck, stood on his tiptoes and crushed their lips together. Maynard’s lips parted Tighe’s and the Fae’s tongue shyly darted inside.

There the sweet taste of honeysuckle invaded the vampire’s senses. His fingers tangled in Tighe’s silky hair. His body moved forward and pinned Fae’s between the wall and himself. Maynard heard someone moaning and determined it was Tighe. Then he let out a small distressed sound that told the vampire it was still too soon.

“S-sorry.” Maynard said pushing himself away. “Guess Ah jus’—”

An arm around his waist stopped him from moving too far.

“There isn’t anything to be sorry for, May.” Tighe told him hardly blushing. He smirked, “I was the one who kissed you”

“So y’were.” Maynard replied with a grin. “So what’cha gonna do now?”

“Go show fraella my new pretties!” the Fae exclaimed jubilantly, released May and teleported off to his sister.

Damnit

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He’s a Fae,Maynard told himself later that day as he sat watching Tighe eat. Faes are innocent little sprites who don’t realize that licking a lollypop that way—

Tighe shot him a look and gave his sucker a very long and highly suggestive lick. Maynard had to leave quickly after that and missed the Fae bursting into laughter and his sister smacking him on the back of the head.

“That was not nice.”

“I know exactly what you were doing to Maynard and don’t try to deny it, fraello.”

Tighe smiled innocently and stuck his lollypop in his mouth.

“Tighe, quit sexually harassing Maynard. You may think it’s funny to screw around with his head but—”

“Who shezz I’m just meshing with him?” Tighe inquired.

Royal pulled the sucker out of his mouth and took a lick. Mmm vanilla

“I like him. He’s nice, funny and makes me pretty stuff.”

“He’s bribing you.” His sister replied as he reclaimed his sweet. “He just wants in your pants.”

“Good, ‘cause I want under his skirts.”

Royal simply looked at him blankly but Tighe could tell she was a mixture of emotion. Surprised, mystified and somewhat disgusted all swirled behind the empty mask.

“When I first met otousan, I couldn’t understand why our Mother made such a big deal over him and even married him. He was stern and serious and completely not someone I could see our flighty Mother with.” Tighe told her. “But despite being so serious, he was patient and understanding.”

He smirked as he added, “Drank tea like crazy, constantly begged Kami to save him but I could tell he loved you, me and Mother despite the wackiness.”

“Maynard isn’t tousan.” Royal replied. “He doesn’t love you, he wants to have sex with you.”

“I’m not an idiot, Ally.” Tighe replied evenly. His sister was wise enough not to argue despite she was going over every moronic thing her brother had done recently.

Tried befriending the human staff, ended up reduced to tears. Snuck out on the roof to sun himself and nearly got punished for escaping. Got in a one sided cat fight with the rest of Karnik’s collection when he suggested treating the humans better. Chased mice for an hour because he was bored…

“You know, fraella I’ve actually thought about it.” Tighe told her.

For about five seconds, Royal added in her mind.

“May and I have a lot in common.” He said. “We’re both prisoners of Karnik, we like pretty things, both of us cross dress—”

“Wearing my leather pants is not considered cross dressing when I buy them at men’s clothing stores.”

“And what about all those times as kids I stole your kimonos and hair combs?”

“Fine Tighe, you’re a tobiko .” Royal said resigned to agreeing with him.

“I really feel comfortable with him.” Tighe told her. “Of all the times I’ve had sex, the only bed partner I was actually comfortable with was Grandmother Danu—and I was drunk when we did it!”

“Speaking of Grandmother Danu, someone took her body from the lake.” Royal said. “While you were busy with your bath, I went to get her and found someone had beat me to it.”

“I hope she was properly put to rest, she was our queen at one time.”

“Yeah, yeah” she replied sourly “May the Great loving Goddess bless the eternal peace her body was taken to.”

“ Laat het zo zijn” they both uttered solemnly. Royal spoiled the moment by making a face.

“I like him.” Tighe told her, his Fae logic leaping back to the previous subject.

“You and Maynard is liken to a Fae and a necromancer happily living together.” She said.

“You never know, it could happen.”

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“I’m worried.”

Karnik gripped the hair at the nape of Kazumi’s neck and tugged on it hard. It made the shifter squirm delectably on his cock and gasp.

"Worries? You?" Karnik scoffed, and pounded in again. A thin whining noise squeezed passed Kazumi lips before he nodded.

“Any-” he gasped “thing that worries Itsuki worries me.”

Karnik scraped a nail over Kazumi’s already abused nipples. "What is worrying Itsuki so?"

“Tighe.” He gasped arching up into his Master’s touch. “The baka is getting involved with Maynard.”

Karnik froze. "Involved?" He pulled Kazumi's face around so he could watch his expression. "Involved how?"

“Sexually.” He replied. “Itsuki said he’s been trying to be helpful to Tighe but also to Royal. He thinks playing both sides’ll score him Royal and keep his friendship intact. Stupid idiotic twin.”

Karnik shook his head, his long hair tickling as it brushed against Kazumi’s back. "Your brother was never one my brightest servants." Karnik thrust back into Kazumi’s hot heat and leaned down to nip at his neck. "Any other 'worries'?"

“Only that I am not satisfying you.” Kazumi obediently replied.

Karnik growled into his throat with approval. "A clever answer." And bit down into Kazumi's neck, letting the blood flow. The werewolf whimpered and dutifully went slack in his arms.

Karnik thrust in with renewed vigor. "What makes them think they can get away with it?" He lapped at the blood flowing down Kazumi’s limp neck. "The little one is already in trouble."

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Sex with Tighe was a completely new world.

The Fae opened doors to Maynard that he never knew existed. Gently guiding their flesh into one another. The heavy scent of sweat instead of blood. The slow building of pleasure until finally, in a crest of ecstasy, they came all over one another.

Pleasure without pain, Maynard reflected as they bathed that night. It doesn’t make any sense.

He looked over at Tighe, who was gleefully dog paddling around the massive tub. His laughter echoed throughout the empty room bringing light to its shadows. Maynard smiled fondly.

How can he still be so pure and childlike when he’s seen so much? He’s observed the rise and fall of long dead civilizations. He’s been subjected to pain and suffering that would have sent the mightiest man into a mindless fugue. Even I’ve intentionally done things to him and yet…

A large wave of balmy water just then struck Maynard in the face and he sputtered for unneeded air while Tighe laughed.

He’s so different from everything I’ve ever known. the vampire thought as he wiped water from his face and eyes. He’s so—Tighe.

The rising sun found Maynard in Tighe’s bed, curled up next to its owner. They lay spent and a tad breathless from their latest round of the game they came to know as: Let’s see who can have the longest climax. Oddly enough, Maynard was winning.

“Tell me about your childhood.” Tighe said to him. The vampire quirked an eyebrow and the Fae just gave him a highly age restricted look.

“M’maw an’ pa got sick N’died when Ah was young. Don’t recall’em a lick.” Maynard told. “My earliest memories are plowin’ fields out in the sun.”

“That’s all m’life was back then. Plowin’ fields, eatin’ bland food, sleepin’, goin’ t’church.” He paused and smiled faintly, “And gettin’ licks for disobeying.”

“And then you became a vampire?” Tighe asked hugging him.

“No,” Maynard replied softly. “Then the Master came.”

He took a breath and began telling the whole story, one he often didn’t tell.

“It was a regular night just like the other sixteen years worth of ‘em. I had already gone to bed when some foot soldiers busted inta the house, waking me outta a dead sleep.” Maynard sighed. “By the time it took to get some pants and shoes, Pappy was already dead. Then they grabbed me and herded me outside where the rest of town was herded. Where the Master was.”

“What happened next?” Tighe whispered dreading the answer.

“Since it was Master Karnik’s idea to raid the town, he got t’chose first of all the creatures gathered. He picked five little girls no more than ten. Ten young men, not too handsome or anythin’. And then he saw me.”

Tighe gasped and began shivering. Maynard kissed him on the forehead.

“He musta saw somethin’ inside me ‘cause right off the bat Ah got clocked. While I struggled to m’feet I heard’em laughing. But in m’head ah heard sweet words no one said t’me ever. I like you.”

“That night, there was a feast. We, the chosen, were forced to murder the ones not chosen and serve their remains as food for our Masta’s. Ah saw a mother slit the throat of her own newborn and drain its blood. Ah watched two demons rip the legs off a boy like he was a Christmas turkey. I swear there was a Fae there too. He was the one who took most of the children that night.”

“Must have been an Unseelie.” Tighe told him. “If it makes you feel any better, the kids probably ended up alright.”

“Oh?” May said with a grin. His lover looked up at him and nodded with a smile.

“Scared shitless, yes. Had quite a story to tell when they suddenly returned twenty years later without any signs of aging.”

“So Unseelie aren’t that much different from Seelie Fae like you.”

Tighe winced, “Ah-h no. Children who the Unseelie kidnap usually come home with scars and/or missing limbs. Me and my kind, we’re the stuff of fairytales like Puss in Boots. Unseelie are responsible for tales like Aurore and Aimée.”

“Ah don’t know those stories, Tighe.” Maynard replied with a laugh. “Why don’tcha just tell me what’s different ‘bout’em.”

“In Aurore, the Unseelie were chaotic in their methods. They put Aurore through hell just so she turned out to be a well behaved and well liked queen! In Puss, the cat—who by the way was me—”

Maynard burst into laughter, “You can turn into a cat? An’ here Ah thought Ah wasn’t in ta bestiality.”

“And here I thought I wasn’t into masochistic guys.” Tighe retorted with a smirk. He took a hold of Maynard’s wrist and drew the vampire’s hand to his cock. “But lookie here.”

The look in Tighe’s eyes was blatantly pornographic. But Maynard felt a moment of guilt at his manipulations to reach this moment and drew his hand away.

I’m not worthy of his attentions even though I want them the vampire thought as Tighe frowned. What he really deserves is—

“Say Tighe,” Maynard said yanking the Fae on top of him. He smiled at the startled wide eyed expression on Tighe’s face. You’re gonna be real surprised when you hear this!

“How would you feel about escaping this place?”

Tighe wasn’t surprised per se. Rather, once Maynard made his suggestion, the Fae fell over in a dead faint.

Lousy way to end a great night of sex.
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“He’s crazy!” Itsuki hissed upon hearing what Tighe had to say.

The werewolf had been woken to Tighe’s frantic pounding upon his door after just getting to sleep. But upon learning what had his friend so disturbed as to break their established rule of ‘Not waking the other up after visiting with their secret lover’, Itsuki was wide awake.

“You know what happens to those who even think of getting out of here!” the werewolf exclaimed. “The lead paint has gone to Maynard’s head. I always knew make-up kills.”

“You sure like to see fraella wear it.” Tighe retorted with a smirk.

“Shut up.” Itsuki said with a blush. “There’s a difference between a little lipstick and painting your face like a kabuki mask.”

“I only ask him to do that once.”

Itsuki had the urge to wipe that smile off of Tighe face but knew he’d lose a friend and would end up in traction courtesy of his lover.

“Listen Tighe, don’t try getting out.” He told the Fae. “If Royal has to hunt you down, it’ll break her heart. Break mine too.”

“You really like Royal, don’t you?” Tighe said softly and Itsuki winced.

“Yeah.” He admitted. “I just wish she liked me the same way.”

“She doesn’t?”

“No. There’s someone else, always has been since I knew her.”

Tighe sighed as he recalled the night he first came to the castle—only a month or so ago? He had sensed something weighed heavily on Royal that night. Long before the party where he made himself such a spectacle in front of her, something inside of Royal changed that night.

The only other people Royal saw that night were himself, Karnik and … oh shit….

“If it makes you feel any better.” Tighe said clapping Itsuki on his shoulder. “Fraella can’t be with that other guy.”

“Because of Master Karnik.”

“Because they’re natural enemies.” Tighe corrected. His Fae nature battled with his human side for dominance and for once his human blood won. He forced himself not to give any more information on the identity of the man his sister fell for.

“So she’s sleeping with me by choice.” Itsuki asked and Tighe swore he saw a tail begin wagging behind the werewolf’s back.

“She’s sleeping with you because she got tired of your eager puppy dog looks.” The Fae replied and winced. Oops, looks like Fae blood won that one.

He felt a little better when Itsuki busted up laughing.